Pants stretcher and former



July 20, 1954 Filed Jan. 2, 1952 W. C. GLOVER, JR

PANTS STRETCHER AND FORMER 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. W/W/a/W d/ol eg Gk ATTORNEK July 20, 1954 w. c. GLOVER, JR 2,584,190

PANTS STRETCHERAND FORMER Filed Jan. 2, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I PatentedJuly 20, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE PANTS STR-ETCHER AND FORMERApplication January 2, 1952, Serial No. 264,411

7 Claims.

This invention has to do with garment fin-- ishing machines andparticularly devices for stretching and forming trousers, the primary obiect being to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily operated ma hinehaving all of the necessary features for accomplishing the desiredresuits, and usable by smaller operators unable to withstand the expenseof the more complicated machines of this character now available on theopen market.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide atrouser finisher in the nature of a steamer and including two pairs ofopposed, horizontal arms for receiving the trouser legs, shaped toconform to the seat of the trousers and adapted to stretch the same in adirection transversely of the legs, as well as longitudinally thereof bya manual pulling action on the part of the operator.

Another object hereof relates to novel connection of the members formovement toward and away from each other and including spring means toyieldably hold one end of the members biased apart as the same areshifted relatively through use of extensible linkage pivotallyinterconnecting the members and serving as the sole means of j oindertherebetween.

Other objects relate to the way in which an absorbent webbing isprovided to collect condensate; the way in which the webbing closes theends of the trouser leg-receiving units; the manner of directing steaminto the trouser legs and toward the flexible end closures; and manymore minor objects including details of construction,

all of which will be made clear or become apparout as the followingspecification progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a pants stretcher and former madepursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing theunits partially expanded and having a pair of trousers thereon.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end elevational view, parts beingbroken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view takenthrough one of the units for receiving the trouser legs.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view takenon line VV of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, cross-sectional view takenon line VI--VI Of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed,

2 cross-sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 4.

A base it (Fig. 1) supports an upright standard or pedestal l2, that ispreferably tubular, which pedestal l2 in turn supports a hollow head orcasing I4. Casing M is open along one side thereof for receiving a pairof elongated, horizontal supports or arms H5, bolted or otherwiseaiiixed to the casing i i and each including a pair of identicalsections held apart by spacers 1%.

Supports it carry a pair of lowermost arms or stretching members 20 thatare likewise each composed of a pair of identical sections held inspaced-relationship by spacers 22. The two stretching members 2!! areinterconnected at one end thereof in any suitable manner such as by theutilization of tubula spacers 2d and transverse bolts 25. The twomembers 2B are supported solely by the arms It through the medium oflinkage broadly designated by the numeral 28 and pivotally connectingeach arm IS with the corresponding underlying arm 2!]. Linkage 28 eachin cludes a link 38 pivotally secured to the corresponding center spacerI8 and a link 32 pivotally mounted on the centermost spacer 22. Link 39is pivotally joined to the link 32 intermediate the ends of the latterand link 32 in turn carries a pair of rollers 3 on the uppermost endthereof. Plates 36 on each of the two sections of the supports is,provide tracks for the rollers ss as they reciprocate toward and awafrom the case M as hereinafter made more clear. Each of the expansiblelinkages 28 is provided with an actuating rod 33 pivotally connectedwith the link 32 above the rollers 3t and extending between the spacedsections of the corresponding arms it toward the casing i4.

Casing l4 journals a horizontal shaft to that in turn is provided with apair of laterally extending arms 42 pivotally connected with acorresponding rod 38 within the casing Hi as shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. The arms 12 are yieldably biased toward the linkages 25 bymeans of a spring 44 coiled about the shaft iii and having a pair oflegs Ali in overlying engagement with the arms 42. The bight 48 ofspring is bears against and/or is fastened to an upstanding bracket 58within the casing i l. An elongated spring 52 for each linkage 28respectively, connects with link 32 and the corresponding arm it betweenth sections of the latter, adjacent the outermost spacer l8 remote fromcasing 14, springs 52 cooperating with the spring is in holding therollers 34 biased toward the outermost free ends of the support arms l6.

An operating handle 54 connecting with the shaft 40 exteriorly of thecase I4 is provided with a toothed segment 56 that cooperates with aspring-loaded pawl 58 swingably mounted on the case M to releasably holdthe handle 54 and accordingly, the linkages 28 in predeterminedpositions.

The arms [6 and are interconnected by a spring 60 secured to each arm 20respectively at that end thereof adjacent casing I4 and to acorresponding link 39. A webbing of suitable absorbent material isattached to the uppermost surfaces of the arms 20 throughout the entirelengths thereof, each webbing 62 having a normally V-shaped extension 64that connects with the corresponding overlying arm [6 adjacent theoutermost spacer I8.

A T-shaped fastener 66 intermediate the ends of the webbing extension 64receives a coil spring 68 that is in turn secured to the correspondingarm l6 inwardly of the free end thereof. Although the arms 20 are shownspaced away from the arms It in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings, whenthe linkages 28 are completely retracted, the outermost free ends of thearms I 6 and 20 are together with the webbing extensions 84therebetween.

The arms i5 are out-away as at it to receive the trousers T2 at thewaist thereof and adjacent the fiy which is fastened after applying thetrousers 72 to the arms I6 and 2d. Arms 2% in turn are provided with adownwardly arched portion 14 between the centermost spacer 22 and thatend of the arms 28 adjacent the casing l4 to conform to the shape of theseat of the trousers 12 as shown in Fig. 2.

As an aid in holding the trousers 12 in a taut condition adjacent thewaist and fly, there is provided a substantially L-shaped arm l6swingable at one end thereof on the shaft (see Fig. 3 and movable alonga slot 73 in the uppermost end of the casing 24. An elongated bar 89 isswingably secured to the arm 1% and rests upon the trousers i2 betweenthe arms it as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings when placed in use. Aspring catch 82 in the casing l4 releasably holds the arm it with thebar 86 at the uppermost end of its path of travel in the mannerillustrated by Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings.

A pipe 84 connected with a suitable supply of steam not shown, extendsinto the hollow pedestal i2 and upwardly therethrough into the easing ll, whence it is continued in an angled portion 38 having a control valve88 interposed therein; valve 33 is in turn operated by means of a foottreadle 98 on the base IE2 and connected with the valve 88 by means of arod 92. The angled portion 85 of the pipe 84 carries a perforated head9d immediately below the arms I8 therebetween and adjacent the open sideof the casing M. A bafile plate 96 is adjustably carried by the head 94and locked in an adjusted position by means of a nut 98. Condensate maybe drained from the pedestal [2 by removal of a plug Hit or byconnecting a drain pipe thereto. Artificial currents of air may beproduced by means of a blower I62 having a contained prime mover,preferably an electric motor, controlled by a switch 34. The outlet endof the blower 582 communicates with the casing 14 and is disposed todirect the currents of air horizontally toward the head 94 and into thetrousers l2 when the same are mounted as shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings.

As above indicated, prior to threading of the legs of the trousers 12upon the arms It and 20, the handle 54 is swung to the lowermost end ofits path of travel by releasing pawl 58. After the trousers 12 are inplace, the fly is fastened across the cut-away portions it of arms [6,and the handle 54 is thereupon raised slightly, pawl 58 automaticallycooperating with the toothed segment 55 to hold the handle 54 in theselected position. Such upward swinging movement of the handle 54 swingsthe rods 38 toward the casing l4, through arms 42 and against the actionof spring 44 and the two springs 52. The two pairs of rollers 3thereupon ride along the wear plates 36 toward the casing 14 and,through linkage 28, the outermost free ends of the arms 20 adjacent thewebbing extension 64 move away from the arms [6, thereby holding thecuffs of the trousers T2 taut. During this initial movement of thehandle 54, the two springs 5i operate to maintain the arcuate portions Mof the arms 20, out of tight engagement with the seat of the trousers72. While the trousers l2 are still relatively loose on the arms 15 and22 except at the cuffs of the legs, the operator steps on treadle toopen valve 83 and direct steam into the trousers i2 toward the webbingportions 64 that serve as closures for the cuff ends of the trouserlegs. Steam is therefore. directed through the fabric material fromwhich the garment T2 is made, around the sides, top and bottom of allarms is and 2B. the same time, the operator grasps the cuffs of thetrousers T2 to straighten the trousers longitudinally, whereupon handle54 is raised to the position shown in Fig. l of the drawings to com--pletely expand the linkages 28.

While the waist of the trousers i2 is held by the cut-away portions 58and by the arcuate lengths M of the arms 26, the operator, pulling uponthe trousers T2 at the cuffs thereof, stretches the legs longitudinally.

Finally, with bar 8! in place as shown in Fig. 2, additional steam isdirected into the trousers by depressing treadle M baffie plate 96serving to prevent a surge of steam toward the closures whereby thetrousers 12 are completely saturated with steam throughout the entirelength thereof. The extent of baffling of the steam emanating from theperforated head 96 may be varied by loosening lock nut 98 and adjustingbaffle plate 96 toward and way from the head t l.

It is seen that by virtue of the flexible nature of the webbing 62 andfurther, by provision of the springs 58, arms 2!] are free to movetoward and away from the arms it while the portions of the webbing 62serve as a closure for the curl ends of the trousers i2, preventingescape of the steam from trousers 12 at the cuff ends thereof.

Such condensate that may tend to form on the arms 16, springs Bil,linkages 28 and springs and 63, will drip downwardly and be collected bythe absorbent webbing 62 rather than continue to flow downwardly alongthe sides of the arms 20 and thence be absorbed by the trousers 752.

After the steaming operation, blower H32 may be placed in operation byclosing of switch hit to remove the steam and partially or completelydry the trousers '32 as desired prior to removal of trousers '12 byrelease of pawl 58 and downward swinging movement of handle 54.

It is now seen that there has been provided completely efficient,relatively inexpensive ma chine that may be used by operators who aredesirous of improving their service by increasing the amount of wetclean of garments of this character. It is well appreciated by thoseskilled in this field that dry cleaning is practiced to the greatestpossible extent because of the fact that little finishing is requiredafter treating the garments with the usual solvents. On the other hand,spotting or wet clean is oftentimes necessary and in most cases,desirable to efiectively clean the garment. Wet cleaning has thedisadvantage of requiring removal of wrinkles and stretching prior tothe pressing operation. By use of a machine of this character, it ispossible for a small operator to wet clean to the extent that he maydesire, whereupon the garment may be quickly and easily stretched andmade ready for pressing by removal of wrinkles.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a trouser stretching device, an upright standard; a pair ofelongated, horizontal supports extending from the standard; an elongatedstretching member beneath each support re-- spectively; expansiblelinkage pivotally joining the supports and the members; means forbiasing the members away from the supports at one end thereof as thelinkage is expanded; and a flexible closure joining each supportrespectively with an underlying member at said one end thereof.

2. In a trouser stretching device, an upright standard; a pair ofelongated, horizontal supports extending from the standard; an elongatedstretching member beneath each support respectively; expansible linkagepivotally joining the supports and the members; means for biasing themembers away from the supports at one end thereof as the linkage isexpanded; a flexible closure joining each support respectively with anunderlying member at said one end thereof; and yieldable means joiningeach support respectively with its closure.

3. In a trouser finishing machine, a pair of elongated, rigidlyinterconnected, horizontal supports; a pair of elongated, rigidlyinterconnected stretching members, there being a stretching memberbeneath each support respectively; expansible linkage depending fromeach support respectively intermediate the ends thereof and pivotallyconnected thereto; means pivotally connecting each linkage with acorresponding member; and spring means connecting each member at one endthereof with its overlying support for yieldably holding the membersbiased at the opposite end thereof away from the supports as the linkageis expanded.

4. In a trouser finishing machine, an upright standard; a pair ofelongated, horizontal supports extending from the standard; a pair ofelongated, rigidly interconnected stretching members, there being astretching member beneath each support respectively; an expansiblelinkage between each support respectively and the corresponding membertherebeneath, each of said linkages including a pair of elongated links,one of said links being pivotally connected at one end thereof to one ofsaid members, the other of said links bein pivotally connected at oneend thereor" to one of said supports, and at the opposite end thereof tosaid one link intermediate the ends of the latter, and roller means onthe opposite end of said one link; and resilient means yieldably holdingthe rollers biased against the lowermost edges of the supports.

5. A trouser finishing machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein isprovided a spring interconnecting one of the linkages adjacent itsroller and the overlying support adjacent that end of the latter remotefrom the standard.

6. A trouser finshing machine as set forth in 5, wherein is providedspring means connecting one of the supports with its underlying memberadjacent one end of the latter proximal to the standard.

7. A trouser finishing machine as set forth in claim 6, wherein isprovided spring means connecting one of the supports with its underlyingmember adjacent one end of the latter remote from the standard.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,791,601 Ramsdell Feb. 10, 1931 1,855,544 Emery et al Apr.26, 1932 2,092,278 Harvey Sept. 7, 1937 2,245,665 Hanson Dec. 17, 19412,423,509 Lendle July 8, 1947 2,531,599 Bader et a1 Nov. 28, 1950

